Question

Write the pseudocode for linear search, which scans through the sequence, looking for ν. Using a loop invariant, prove that your algorithm is correct. Make sure that your loop invariant fulfills the three necessary properties.

Answer 1

1 for i = 1 to A.length

2 if A[i] = nu

3 return i

4 return NIL

Step-by-step explanation:

Loop invariant:

At the start of each iteration of the for loop of lines 1-3, there is no j<i such that A[j]=ν.

Initialization:

At the beginning of the first iteration, we have i=1, so there is no j<i such that A[j]=ν.

Maintenance:

We fix i and assume there is no j<i such that A[j]=ν.

If A[i]=ν, then we return a value, so then there are no more iterations, so the property is preserved.

If A[i]≠ν, then there is no j<i+1 such that A[j]=ν, which is the desired property for the next step.

Termination:

The loop terminates either for i=A.length+1, or if ever we encounter A[i]=ν.

In the first case, then there is no 1≤j≤A.length such that A[j]=ν, and we are correctly returning NIL

In the second case, if we encounter some i such that A[i]=ν, we are correctly returning i.